Using the World Wide Web--a new approach to risk identification of diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem with a rising tendency world-wide. A new strategy for risk evaluation and data collection of undiagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) using the World Wide Web (WWW) is presented. An easy-to-handle questionnaire on typical risk factors was converted into an interactive WWW document. The Internet provides the suitable platform for the net-based distribution of the questionnaire form as well as the computer-assisted entering and interpretation of the data (http:(/)/www.uni-leipzig.de/-diabetes). The analysis program, installed on our WWW server, interprets the information and sends the assessment on-line back to the inquiring user PC. The data are also collected anonymously in a database for epidemiological studies. In the test period, 744 world-wide accesses were registered: 433 men, mean age 39.8 +/- 14.4 years (range 10-83) and 311 women, mean age 36.7 +/- 12.7 years (range 11-77). An increased risk for undiagnosed diabetes was identified to 43.6%. The risk profile of male and female users showed no significant gender-related differences. Using the WWW technology can support early detection and adequate treatment of undiagnosed diabetes. This innovative strategy to screen for a high risk profile is an useful, cost-effective and up-to-date tool for broad community health education and epidemiological studies world-wide.
Baehring
T U
TU
Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany. baet@server3.medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Schulze
H
H
Bornstein
S R
SR
Scherbaum
W A
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D009862:Online Systems; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires